Bethlehem cannot hire four new police officers as specified in the 1991 budget until a contract amendment issue is resolved.

Fraternal Order of Police Star Lodge 20 has rejected City Council's proposed amendment, which states that any new employees for 1991 would not be protected by the "no layoff" clause in the city's three major labor agreements.

The other two unions have not yet responded to the proposal, which council mandated Dec. 10 during budget deliberations, Business Administrator Robert Wilkins said.

If the International Association of Firefighters Local 735 and the Service Employees International Union Local 436 also reject the proposal, all of the 16 new positions in the $29.95 million 1991 budget would have to be delayed -- or eliminated.

Mayor Ken Smith wanted to hire 18 new personnel, including the four police officers, with no strings attached. But he agreed to cut two of those jobs in a budget compromise with council.

Council implemented another mandate, through a resolution introduced by President James Delgrosso, that any personnel hired for new positions in 1991 would not be subject to the "no layoff" clause secured by the unions in their three-year contracts 1990-92.

FOP Vice President Daniel Meixell said the membership turned down the proposal at a meeting Monday night. He declined to provide the vote tabulation, but said, "it wasn't close."

Asked for his impression of why the proposal was rejected, Meixell said the officers felt that the layoff provision was gained at the bargaining table, and any alteration of it should be made the same way.

"We felt like we were being held up," Meixell said. He said it was as if the city was saying, "take this concession or you're not getting your (additional) manpower."

Bethlehem, with about 72,000 residents, now employs 126 police officers.

Wilkins confirmed that the FOP notified the administration of the rejection vote.

"The administration is not directly involved," he said, noting that it was council's resolution. "It's really between the FOP and council."

Wilkins said city solicitor Constantine Vasiliadis will be asked to review the situation to see whether there's a way the people can be hired without violating the resolution. Other than that, FOP or council would have to reconsider their positions on the matter, he said.

When asked if council might reconsider the resolution, Delgrosso said he could only speak for himself, and that he wouldn't be inclined to do so.

"I think it's an important resolution," he said.

With two members absent Dec. 10, the resolution to exempt new employees from the "no layoff" protection was approved 4-1, with Delgrosso, Richard Szulborski, Paul Calvo and Michael Loupos in support, and Otto Ehrsam Jr. against.

Delgrosso said the resolution wasn't intended as a "holdup," as police have taken it. Rather, it was a means of protecting the city in the face of the coming economic slowdown, he said.

"It was a safeguard in case of the recession that all the economists are talking about," Delgrosso said, noting that it applies only to new employees who would be aware of the provision when they are hired.

Delgrosso expressed disappointment in the police vote, and said he hoped further discussion on the issue would result in a change of heart among union members.

Bethlehem hired a police officer last week, but that person filled an existing position that was open, and was not subject to the resolution.